Monday, September 28, 2015

Rite of passage


Image result for images of ca missions


Not growing up in California I had a lot of different experiences than my friends who grew up here. I did not make a mission in the fourth grade.  I did not go to outdoor science camp in fifth.  The one thing we have in common is that we had to play an intstrument in the fourth grade. And now so do my children.

I remember being forced to pick an instrument I did not want to play because I had to play a lady-like instrument, which was not the drums, stand up bass or the sax, my orignal choices. I was allowed to play the flute. I ended up loving playing an instrument. I loved the feeling of accompishment, the creativity, the collaboration and the challenge. I ended up loving my flute. Especially when I watched my friends lugging their larger instruments. There was no way I could have lugged the bass around.

Image result for images flute player                                      


My daughter chose to play the flute because I had played it.  I pushed back and made her try a couple of other instruments before settling on the flute. I did not want her to start out feeling that the flute was not the instrument she wanted.

I hope she loves this experience and grow to love music and have a creative outlet she can cherish her whole life.  We're off to a good start; she spent the weekend learning how to make a sound with the mouthpiece.  She did not give up and powered through it.

I'd love to hear your school music stories or any creative outlets you cherish.

16 comments:

  1. Good for your daughter! I think learning to play an instrument is so important for a kid. It has so many benefits. I started playing the trumpet because I wanted to but now I am really glad I play guitar instead.

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    1. I wish I had stuck with it. My son played trumpet for one year. He was never very interested and didn't enjoy it.

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  2. Aww, adorable pictures!! She's gorgeous. I played piano for about nine months but had a pretty bad teacher, so I absolutely abhorred it, unfortunately. I'm considering picking it back up though...I have a super musical family and we actually have a music studio in our basement (different kinds of drums, a bajillion guitars, keyboards, the like). Have a great week!

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  3. Thanks but they are not my kids just photos I found on the internet. I actually think my daughter is cuter than that (of course her mom does, no surprise there). I am very over protective about putting anything about them on the internet. I will let them do that themselves much later.

    Wow. You are so lucky to have all those opportunities to learn music and different instruments. But only if you want it. You have a wonderful talent with your writing and if that is where your passion lies you should follow it.
    I hope you have some time for yourself this week.

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  4. I learned the flute at school but only so I could get out of Art class :) Music lessons were at the same time. However, my main instrument as a child was the electronic organ. I loved it and still do. It's like playing the complete orchestra and the thrill of having both feet and hands creating such a wonderful sound is great. I also play the piano and even though its a keyboard instrument, the two require different skills.

    I really hope your daughter enjoys learning the flute. If she practises and gets into the school orchestra, she'll love it even more.

    Have a great week Kat.

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    1. How interesting. I would not have thought that the organ and piano were different to learn. I could never coordinate all four appendages to do different things at the same time. I am really impressed.

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  5. How awesome to be able to read and play music. I never did. I always wanted to be able to play the piano, but never got past chopsticks.

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    1. My brother in law had too; so last year he bought a keyboard and taught himself. I was so impressed that he just did. It is never too late to try something new!

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  6. I played the clarinet and enjoyed being in the marching band. I never kept it up though, and I wish I had. Not as much as I wish I'd kept up the piano lessons though!

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    1. I could not get a sound out of a reed instrument. It seems like everyone wants to play the piano.

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  7. I played clarinet, too, but only for 2 years and then I gave it up. I'm not very musical so it was all for the good. I do wish I had learned to play the piano though.

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    1. I, along with many others, wish I knew how to play the piano as well. To that end I have downloaded some apps but they are not the same as a real piano and I have not learned anything.

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  8. I saw my stepdaughter was playing strings in elementary school and was surprised. We didn't get to play an instrument in elementary school...but that was the late 70s. Maybe they didn't have the budget for that? I played a flute in junior high (what's called middle school now--I always feel the need to clarify that!), but I would have loved to learn to play something like a violin...and I've always wanted to learn to play the piano.

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    1. I grew up with elementary, Junior High (7th and 8th) and high school as well. My son tried the violin for one year and hated it so he tried the trumpet next year and said he liked it but they are both sitting in his closet not being played. I hope my daughter will continue on past the two years but she is struggling now just trying to make a sound on it and starting to get frustrated because the other kids are ahead of her now. This will be a great lesson in perserverance.

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  9. I played the piano and absolutely loved it. I didn't feel forced to play it because I was a woman. Instead I wanted to play it. I'm glad your story had a happy ending and I hope the same goes for your daughter. :)

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  10. oh that's awesome for her!!! Flute is so pretty. I was a total sports kid so I didn't learn any music or instruments. However, my husband's mom is a music teacher so he can pick up and play just about any instrument, I love it. I think it's great to be musical and enhances one's intelligence in my opinion!

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